Batey - Suddenly Single Workbook: Building Your Future after Divorce

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SUDDENLY SINGLE WORKBOOK

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Details in some stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV. Copyright 1973, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION and NIV are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved; HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers; KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.); NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org); NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved; NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-4347-1174-8

eISBN 978-0-8307-7217-9

2018 Kathey Batey

The Team: Alice Crider, Margot Starbuck, Amy Konyndyk, Diane Gardner, Rachael Stevenson, Susan Murdock

Cover Design: Nick Lee

Cover Photo: Getty Images

First Edition 2018

For I know the plans I have for you says the L ORD ... to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Have you been trying to establish yourself and heal after your divorce? Are you ready to begin creating your future? Are you asking the question, What now?

Suddenly Single Workbook: Building Your Future after Divorce is an eight-week, self-guided program to help you to build a life you love. The workbooks purpose is to help you get your footing after divorce, gain a fresh vision, plan for your life ahead, and create a structure to get there.

As you have been going through the transition of divorce, youve spent a great deal of time managing the stresses of your life change, using your energy toward coping with a bad or difficult relationship, navigating the divorce process, or simply surviving. But this is a new day. This is your day. Its time to be proactive and intentional again instead of merely reacting to life. Its time to start building your new life.

This workbook is divided into eight weeklong sessions. Each week covers vital, life-changing topics that give you the tools and power to create your new life and discover yourself again!

Each week ends with an Authenticity Check where you can be honest with yourself, make key decisions, and determine the actions you are going to take. At week 7 you will set a date on the calendar to create your New Life Declaration. This will be your goal and dream page that will establish and guide your future.

Options for using this workbook:

1. 1. Work through the lessons alone at a weekly appointment you make with yourself.
2. 2. Unpack the lessons with friends or a group, meeting weekly or biweekly to discuss them together. (Allow two hours and delegate a group facilitator.)

Below, fill in the day and time you will work on each unit. For the most effective sessions, find a peaceful place, create an undistracted time, and take this appointment seriously. If you are in a group, fill in the day your group will meet to discuss each unit:

• Week 1: ______
• Week 2: ______
• Week 3: ______
• Week 4: ______
• Week 5: ______
• Week 6: ______
• Week 7: ______
• Week 8: ______

Creating an intentional life takes vision, courage, and wisdom. Its not too late to discover Gods will. Wherever youre going, God is already there, so all you need to do is follow Him. Allow your faith, dreams, skill set, and hearts yearning to help you discover all of your potential and the beautiful life God has planned for you.

As you build your new life, you must create a structure for your dreams, discipline, and determination to stand on. This involves a commitment to change what needs to be changed and to make the decisions that need to be made to gain control of your life. You have this unique opportunity to start all over again and create a life full of purpose and satisfactionthe way you were designed to live. And in the process, find your peace and joy.

You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Psalm 16:11 HCSB

After a divorce, you wonder, Where do I go from here? What now? To answer that, youll need to make an assertive, prayerful effort to create the life you want. Such an important journey requires total honesty of self, openness to direction, vulnerability, and responsibility. You must take control and commit your life to God, of you allow other peoples expectations and agendas to determine your life. Be proactive, listen to Gods direction, and do not be a reflex to the constant life stimuli coming at you. Use this workbook to dream, to decide, and to dwell in the space where Gods will is for you. And choose to make the next chapter of your story the greatest one yet. It can be the best part of your life if you are willing to do the work and establish the structure to make it happen.

Lets begin by looking at your life and clarifying where you want to be. Add any thoughts, people, places, or things you want in your life:

I want to be aligned with:

• People who contribute good things to my life, such as: ______
• Spiritual influences, such as: ______
• Intellectual stimulation, such as: ______
• People whose lives I can contribute to, such as: ______
• People who allow me space to be vulnerable, such as: ______
• Healthy boundaries for myself and others, such as: ______

I want to be defined by: